Stay system for pant legs

ABSTRACT

A stay system for hems ( 12 ) of long pants (FIG.  1 ) includes hems ( 12 ) that resist getting caught between the heel of a foot and shoe or caught at the top opening of short boots. A stay system comprised of a pocket ( 14 ) with stick ( 16 ) eliminates the hem ( 12 ) from rising up and getting caught and offers the wearer a comfortable and non-obtrusive feel of the stay and pants (FIG.  1 ). The pocket ( 14 ) is made of material and laminated with adhesive on one side. The pocket ( 14 ) is attached to the pants by activating the adhesive with heat or the pocket ( 14 ) can be attached to the pants by other attachment methods. The stick ( 16 ), retained inside the pocket ( 14 ), is made of slightly flexible yet rigid material to effectively and comfortably hold the pant leg hems ( 12 ) straight down. Other embodiments are described and shown.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/995,203, filed Sep. 25, 2007 by the present inventor.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

This application relates generally to pant leg stays by means of attachable pocket with stick, weights, stiffening agent, magnets and/or stays inserted into side seams and/or inseams; specifically, to hem stay systems used to keep one's pant leg from being caught between the bottom heel of one's foot and one's shoe, or to keep from having the back lower part of the pant leg from being caught inside the top part of a short boot or shoe; the embodiment will provide a space to store miscellaneous items such as money or a key.

2. Prior Art

It is known by common experience that while it is desired to wear pants of different fabrics with an open heel shoe or a short boot, the pant hem gets caught between the bottom heel of a person's foot and the back open-heeled shoe; and the hem gets caught inside the top part of a short boot. This happens due to walking. When walking, a person's pant leg moves up the person's leg causing the pant to lose its normal extended position and thereby the pant hem gets caught. It can become uncomfortable, bothersome and untidy to have the pant hem caught. When this situation arises, most people feel compelled, either due to discomfort or for appearances sake, to continuously pull on the back of the pant leg to alleviate the problem.

Thereafter, a variety of devices were generally designed to address the issue of keeping pant legs straight down. The stay system in U.S. Pat. No. 20,030,135,907 to Sanchez and Slocum (2003) is limited to keeping bathing suits or short pants from rising up. This prior patent does not address the problem of long pant legs getting caught between the heel of the foot and shoe or of the pant leg getting caught inside the top part of a short boot.

The detachable stirrup in U.S. Pat. No. 3,200,414 to Stemberg (1965) is limited to straps that are connected to the sides of a pant hem. The straps go under a person's foot proving to be non stationary and uncomfortable to wear.

The ankle garter in U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,522 to Calabrese (1983) is limited to a strap that goes under the foot used solely for holding pant legs in place for ease of insertion of a foot into a sock or boot.

The trouser leg retaining device in U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,156 to Oglesby (1996) is limited to holding pants in place by use of a link chain system which straps under a wearer's shoe.

The clippable trouser retaining strap in U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,906 to Lavine and Lavine (1978) is limited to an elastic strap which goes under the foot to hold pants in place.

The trouser leg retaining device in U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,582 to Milburn (2004) is limited to an elastic strap with a snap fastener device that must hook to the wearer's shoe.

All the retaining devices heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages:

-   -   (a) Their application to the pant leg is complicated and         elaborate.     -   (b) Their appearance is obtrusive and indiscreet.     -   (c) They can be uncomfortable to wear.     -   (d) They can scratch and damage the wearer's shoes.     -   (e) They do not address the problem of pant legs getting caught         under the heel of a foot or in the top of a short boot.

While there generally have been patents issued for pockets with stays for shirt collars, stiffening agents for fabrics, and magnetic attachment devices which work to keep shirt collars straight down, none have directly or indirectly addressed pant legs, specifically, with the purpose of keeping the back bottom part of a pant leg straight down.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment a hem stay comprises a pocket with a stick inside it and a means for attaching pocket to pants. In accordance with another embodiment a hem stay comprises weights and a means for attaching weights to pants. In accordance with another embodiment a hem stay comprises a stiffening agent. In accordance with another embodiment a hem stay comprises stays inserted into the side seams and or inseams of the pant leg hem.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a view of a pant.

FIG. 2A is a detailed part perspective of the inside of a back pant leg hem, with a pocket attached and with a stick inserted in the pocket.

FIG. 2B is a detailed view of the pocket.

FIG. 2C is a detailed view of the stick.

FIG. 3 is a detailed part perspective of a variety of styles and shapes of the stick in accordance with other embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a view of the pocket comprised of more than one compartment.

FIG. 5 is a view of a band of material with weights attached to it.

FIG. 6 is an inside view of the back pant leg hem with metallic or plastic fibers embedded or woven into the fabric of the pant.

FIG. 7 is a detail of a side view of the pant hem illustrating the insertion of a stay into the side seam.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the pant hem illustrating stays on the side seams and/or the inseams of the pants.

FIG. 9 is an inside view of the back pant leg hem with the band of material with weights attached to the bottom of the hem.

FIG. 10 is an inside view of the back pant leg hem with one weight attached to the bottom of the hem.

FIG. 11 is an inside view of the back pant leg hem with a stiffening agent applied to the hem area.

DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS

12 pant leg hem 13 back of pant leg 14 pocket 16 stick 18 top of pocket (open end) 20 bottom corner of stick 22 weights 24 band of material 26 bottom of pocket 28 bottom edge of hemline 30 metal/plastic fibers 32 stay 34 side seam 36 inseam 38 additional compartment of pocket 40 stiffening agent 42 single weight

Detailed Description—FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3 and 4—First Embodiment

An overall view of a pant leg is illustrated in FIG. 1 for the purpose of clarity. One embodiment of the hem stay is illustrated in FIG. 2A (as applied on a pant), 2B (detailed view) and 2C (detailed view). The pocket 14 is typically made of fabric which is used for garments. The size of the pocket 14 is approximately 1 inch wide×4.4 inches high. The pocket 14 can be created by sewing cut fabric together to form the pocket 14 or it can be created by using adhesive to seam the edges of the fabric or any other method. The embodiment can be of any size and of any material and it can be a permanent or nonpermanent attachment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the embodiment may or may not have more than one compartment which comprises the pocket 14. The advantage of the embodiment being comprised of more than one compartment is to allow the wearer to house the stick 16 in one compartment 18 and to then allow the wearer to use any additional compartments 38 for storing personal items such as, money, a key, driver's license, etc. In the case that the embodiment is used solely to store personal items other than the stick 16, the embodiment can be attached to any area on the inside of the bottom pant leg hem 28, not just to the back side of the pant leg hem 12.

The pocket 14 is attached to the inside of the back bottom area of the pant leg hem 12. In the preferred embodiment, the pocket 14 has adhesive on one side of it in order to be attached to a pant leg hem 12. The adhesive is laminated onto one side of the fabric of the pocket by a converter skilled in the process of lamination. In the preferred embodiment, the adhesive would be non-water soluble, so as to form a more permanent bond between the pocket 14 and the fabric of the pant. Alternatively, the adhesive can be water soluble so as to come off in laundry water. However, the pocket 14 can have any other attachment method on it, such as hook and eye (Velcro), buttons, snaps, magnets, etc. in order to attach the pocket 14 to the inside of the pant lag hem 12 thereby, making the pocket 14 a nonpermanent attachment.

The pocket 14 can be left open on top 18 or it can be closed off with snaps, buttons, Velcro, zipper, magnets etc.

The pocket 14 is used as a housing station for the stick 16. In the preferred embodiment, the stick 16 is 1 inch wide×4.4 inches high× 1/16 inch thick. The stick 16 is rounded on top with straight sides going down and with a straight edge bottom. The two bottom corners of the stick 20 are typically beveled or rounded to avoid snagging the fabric of the pocket 14. However, the stick 16 can be of different sizes or shapes as illustrated but not limited to FIG. 3.

The stick 16 is a flexible plastic, such as polystyrene. The stick 16 may be formed by die stamp cutting, water jet cutting, laser cutting or produced through injection molding, etc. However, the stick 16 can consist of any other material that can be repeatedly bent without fracturing, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl, nylon, rubber, leather, various impregnated or laminated fibrous materials, various plasticized materials, cardboard, paper, Styrofoam, metal, magnets, etc.

While maintaining a sense of flexibility, the stick 16 should still be sturdy enough to retain a straight shape in order to keep the bottom of the pant leg 12 straight down, thereby, keeping the pant from being caught between the heel of the foot and the top back portion of the shoe or to keep the bottom pant leg 12 from bunching around the top opening of a short boot.

Also, the stick 16 may or may not be encapsulated in material and may be used independently without the pocket 14 by whatever attachable means exist such as, magnets.

Operation—FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C

Method aspects of the present embodiment, is concerned with two possibilities; one being consumer application of embodiment to pants as an after-market product since the embodiment can be manufactured separately from the pants to which it is affixed. The embodiment can be affixed at any time to finished goods. The embodiment can be applied conveniently in seconds. The embodiment does not require special skill to use. The second possibility is the application or integration of the embodiment to pants at the manufacturing level of pants. A pant made of any wearable fabric as shown in FIG. 1 and comprises pant leg hems 12 is a candidate for this embodiment.

The pant leg hem 12 in FIG. 2A is the area in which this embodiment should be applied. One would need a household iron heated for approximately five minutes on dry setting and set to the highest temperature that the fabric of the pants can withstand. To ensure secure application of the embodiment, one should first flip one's pants inside out and then place the hot iron on the inside of the pant leg hem 12 for a pre-designated time (approximately 15 seconds) to warm up the fabric.

Then the embodiment should be placed adhesive side down and positioned in the center of the back of the inside of the pant leg hem 12. The open top end of the pocket 18 should be positioned away from the bottom of the hem 28. The pocket 14 should be positioned so that the bottom edge of the pocket 26 is as close to the bottom edge of the pant hemline 28, FIG. 2A, without allowing the pocket 14 to hang below the bottom of the pant hemline 28. The proper positioning of the pocket 14 will keep it from being seen or noticed to anyone other than the wearer.

Next, one should place the hot iron directly on top of the pocket 14 for a pre-designated time (approximately 30 seconds) and press firmly down. Then the pants should be flipped right side out. Immediately following, one should place the hot iron on the outside of the pants over the area where the pocket 14 has been placed inside the pants 12. The iron should be held in this position for a pre-designated time. The adhesive then creates a permanent bond between the pocket 14 and the pants FIG. 2A.

Once the pocket 14 has cooled, the stick 16 should be placed inside the pocket 14. Application of the embodiment is complete and the pants are ready to wear.

When laundering pants, the stick 16 should first be removed. If the stick 16 remains in the pocket 14 while laundering pants, the stick will not be destroyed, but the repeated occurrence of keeping the stick 16 in the pocket 14 during the laundering process will eventually compromise the stick 16. Therefore, it is favorable to remove the stick 16 before laundering.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11—Alternative Embodiments

There are various possibilities with regard to keeping the bottom back portion of a pant leg 12 straight down so as not to get caught between the heel of the foot and an open-heeled shoe; or to keep the pant leg from being bunched up around the top opening of a short boot. Some of the possibilities are the use of weights, stiffening agent, metal or plastic fibers integrated into the fabric of the pant, magnets and or side seam stays.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment which has small weights 22 embedded in a band of material 24. FIG. 9 illustrates the band of material 24 applied to the pant leg hem 12. This band of material 24 can be attached by the consumer in the aftermarket by any attachment method; or the band 24 can be integrated into the bottom hem of the pant 28 during the manufacturing process of the pant. As demonstrated in FIG. 10, a single weight 42 can be used as well. The small weights 22 and single weight 42 can be of various sizes, shapes, measurements or heaviness and can be used in a variety of ways. The small weights 22 and single weight 42 can be flexible or not flexible in nature. The small weights 22 and single weight 42 work to keep the bottom of the pant leg 12 straight down by weighing down the fabric.

The single weight 42 can also be added to the bottom of the hem 28 in a form of an embellished clip or pin which would be marketed for utility and decorative purposes. The style, shape and color of the weight will all vary.

Another alternative embodiment demonstrated in FIG. 11 is to apply a chemical fabric stiffening agent 40 to the bottom area of the pant leg 12. Fabric stiffeners are commonly used in arts and crafts projects to give fabric structure and form.

The stiffening agent 40 may be applied to the fabric of a pant during the manufacturing process of pants. Alternatively, the stiffening agent 40 can be sold separately which would be added by the consumer in the after-market. The fabric stiffener 40 would be added to the pant leg hem 12 by pouring fabric stiffener 40 into a bowl and then placing the pant leg hems 12 in the bowl for a specified amount of time. Alternatively, the fabric stiffener 40 can be added to the pant leg hem 12 by spraying the stiffener 40 onto the fabric area of the pant leg hem 12.

The stiffening agent 40 may be of a permanent nature or of a nature that wears off after a predetermined number of washes of the pant. If the stiffening agent 40 is of the nature that washes off, it would then be reapplied to the pant if the consumer so chooses.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment which uses a method of embedding or integrating metal or plastic like fibers 30, but not limited to metal or plastic, into the fabric of a pant leg hem 12 as the pant is being manufactured. This method would work to give the pant hem 12 a sense of sufficient stiffness and structure, along with some flexibility, causing the pant hem 12 to stay straight down. Thereby, eliminating the problems associated with the fabric of a pant being caught between the heel of the foot and the open back of a shoe or to keep the pant leg from being bunched up around the top opening of a short boot.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment which uses stays 32 inserted into the side seams 34 of the lower pant leg 12. The stays 32 can be of any material such as plastic, metal, rubber, Styrofoam, etc. The stays 32 would be approximately eight inches in length. The stays 32 would be inserted into a pocket in the side seam 34 and as FIG. 8 illustrates, in a pocket in the inseam 36 of the pant leg 12. This embodiment can be applied during the fabrication of the pant or by the consumer in the aftermarket.

All of the various methods described above should be applied to each leg of a pair of pants. The various methods described above may be used for decorative purposes as embellishments and promoted in the marketing of the invention. The various methods may have a variety of decorative or end product style such as but not limited to various colors, shapes, weights and sizes. All of the various methods described above can be either discreet or visible once applied to a pair of pants.

Advantages

From the description above, a number of advantages of some embodiments of my stay system for pant legs become evident:

-   -   (a) No special skill is necessary in order to apply the various         embodiments to pants in the aftermarket.     -   (b) Embodiments which are permanent in nature eliminate the need         for reapplication of the embodiment.     -   (c) Permanent embodiments will cost less money in the long run         when compared to a consumer having to repurchase disposable         applications.     -   (d) Various embodiments are comfortable and non-obtrusive to the         wearer.     -   (e) Embodiments which are applied to pants during the         manufacturing of the pants provide the benefit of not having         pants hems getting caught between the heel and shoe without the         consumer having to apply any of the embodiments themselves.     -   (f) Embodiments which are applied during the manufacturing of         pants will cost less because when there is mass production, the         cost of material of whichever embodiment is used will be cheaper         per unit than an embodiment which is manufactured individually         and sold and applied in the aftermarket.     -   (g) When the embodiment is comprised of more than one         compartment, the consumer will find it useful to have a place to         store miscellaneous personal items such as money or a key.     -   (h) The embodiments can come in a variety of colors, shapes and         weights.     -   (i) The embodiments will provide relief for the wearer from the         constant tugging and pulling on the back of pants in order to         release the pants hems when caught between the heel and top of         the shoe or boot.     -   (j) The embodiments provide for a clean, unwrinkled and         unhindered pant leg.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Accordingly, the reader will see that the stay system for pant legs of the various embodiments can be applied to the bottom of the pant leg hem easily and conveniently, without any special skill required. In addition, when a permanent pant stay system is applied, it eliminates the need for reapplication of a stay system in the future, which has the added advantage of costing the consumer less money. Furthermore, the pant stay system has the additional advantages in that:

-   -   it provides for a comfortable and non-obtrusive addition to a         wearer's pants;     -   it stops the wearer from having to pull on the back of the pant         leg in order to restore the pant leg to its natural straight         position; and     -   when it is applied during the fabrication of pants, it         eliminates the need for consumer application;     -   when it is applied during the fabrication of pants, it reduces         the cost for the consumer because when manufacturers buy         material in mass quantities, it is commonly known that the price         per unit goes down;     -   it allows room for storing personal items such as money, a key,         credit cards, etc, when the stay system is comprised of more         than one compartment;     -   it can come in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes and weights to         satisfy the needs of a variety of consumers;     -   it prevents the bottom of the back of the pant legs from getting         wrinkled and out of shape.

Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. For example, the stay system can have other attachment and application methods, various placement areas on pants, shapes, weights, sizes and material composition.

It should be understood that many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification and accompanying drawings for this embodiment. Therefore, any and all such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the embodiment are deemed to be covered by the embodiment.

Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

1. An article, comprising: a. a stick having a predetermined size and shape, and b. means for attaching said stick to a pant hem, whereby said stick keeps said pant hems straight down.
 2. The article of claim 1 wherein said stick is made of material that can be bent without fracturing.
 3. The article of claim 2 wherein said stick of material that can be bent without fracturing is made of plastic.
 4. The article of claim 3 wherein said stick made of plastic has a flat elongated shape and a rounded top and a straight edge bottom.
 5. The article of claim 1 further including, pocket to encase said stick.
 6. The article of claim 5 wherein said stick is encased in pocket made of textile fabric.
 7. The article of claim 5 wherein said pocket further including, more than one compartment.
 8. The article of claim 7 wherein said pocket with more than one compartment is a means for storing miscellaneous personal items.
 9. The article of claim 1 wherein said attachment method is by means of adhesive, hook and eye, buttons, snaps, or magnets.
 10. The article of claim 1 wherein said stick encased in said pocket is attached to said pant hems.
 11. Methods for keeping pant hems straight down, comprising the steps of: a. attaching to said pant hems a stick which may be encased by a pocket, or b. weighing down said pant hems by attaching weights of predetermined size, shape, and heaviness, or c. stiffening said pant hems by applying stiffening agent, or d. embedding fibers into said pant hems, or e. inserting stays into the side seams of said pant hems, whereby said pant hems will retain their shape and stay straight down without getting caught between the heel of a person's foot and said person's shoe.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said stick is attached and said stick is comprised of material that can be bent without fracturing said stick.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein said weights are used is comprised of one effectively heavy weight or a plurality of weights.
 14. The method of claim 11 wherein said stiffening agent used is comprised of textile fabric stiffening agent applied in an amount effective to stiffen said hems.
 15. The method of claim 11 wherein said fibers are embedded are comprised of metal or plastic.
 16. The method of claim 11 wherein said stays are inserted into said side seams are comprised of material that can be bent without fracturing said stays.
 17. The methods of claim 11 wherein said stick is attached, said weights are attached, stiffening agent is applied, fibers are embedded and stays are inserted into said side seams may be used separately or in combination.
 18. The methods of claim 11 wherein said stick is attached, said weights are attached, stiffening agent is applied, fibers are embedded and stays are inserted into said side seams may be used and applied discreetly or as decorative embellishment to said pant hems.
 19. In combination, a stick having an attachment mechanism and means for providing straight pant hems for keeping said pant hems from being caught between the heel of a person's foot and shoe or to keep said pant hems from being caught at the top opening of a short boot or shoe from said stick to said pant hems.
 20. The stick of claim 19 is encased in fabric. 